ILO to publish largest survey on working conditions in the Thai fishing industry

BANGKOK (ILO News) – A survey of conditions in Thailand’s fishing sector is to be published by the International Labour Organization (ILO). The key findings of the report will be presented at a press conference on Monday 2 September 2013, in Bangkok, Thailand.

The report, based on the largest survey of working conditions in the Thai fishing sector to date, has been compiled by the ILO’s tripartite project to protect migrant workers in the Greater Mekong Subregion and the Asian Research Center for Migration at Chulalongkorn University’s Institute of Asian Studies. The findings reveal how fishers are recruited, and their employment practices and working conditions – including the prevalence of unacceptable forms of work. Nearly 600 fishers were interviewed – mostly from Myanmar and Cambodia – in four major port areas of Thailand.

Thailand is a major supplier in the global trade in fish products, with fish exports exceeding US$7 billion in recent years. Concerns on the abuse and exploitation of fishers, particularly migrant fishers, have led to calls from human rights groups, the international community and retailers for the Government and industry to strengthen regulation and protection.

The press conference will be held on Monday 2 September 2013, starting at 10.30 am, at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand, Maneeya Centre, (BTS Chidlom). The research will be presented by the ILO and the Asian Research Center for Migration. The English version of the full report and a Thai version of the Executive Summary will be distributed. Video footage and photographs will also be available.

Simultaneous English-Thai interpretation will be provided.

For further information please contact:

Ms Krisdaporn Singhaseni
Information Officer
ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
Tel.: +66 (0) 2 288 1664
Email